Method of increasing the stability of a surfer on a surfboard, surfboard (variants) and device for increasing the stability of a surfer on a surfboard

ABSTRACT

A device is proposed, increasing stability of a surfer on a surfboard. It includes an anchoring means connected to the surfboard, in turn, including a negative pressure chamber, a receiving chamber, its nozzle, and an outlet pipe. At least one surfer&#39;s foot is anchored by the anchoring means to the surfboard, when it&#39;s in motion, by a suction flow formed in water by the negative pressure chamber. The suction flow is conveyed via the pipe to the point where the foot contacts with the surfboard, so that the foot is adhered thereto by negative pressure. The device&#39;s first embodiment further includes a fin disposed on the underside rear part of the surfboard, while the anchoring means is disposed inside or on the fin. A second embodiment envisages the anchoring means disposed in a depression made in the underside. The depression is open at the surfboard&#39;s bottom, forming a channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national stage application of a PCTapplication PCT/RU2016/000548 filed on 15 Aug. 2016, published asWO/2018/034582, whose disclosure is incorporated herein in its entiretyby reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The technical solutions relate to floating transportation means, inparticular, to surfboards. They solve a problem of improving stabilityof surfer's position on a surfboard during movement of the surfboardacross a water surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a known surfboard comprising a body having top channels forpassing water streams, wherein the channels are provided symmetricallyrelative to a longitudinal axis of the surfboard and comprise an inletfunnel in an upper part of the surfboard and an outlet funnel in a lowerpart of the surfboard (application DE3320331A1, 13.12.1984). Thesechannels solve a problem of improving stability of the surfboard andsurfer's position on the surfboard, owing to stabilization of thesurfboard by oncoming water streams during movement of the surfboard andby forcing the surfboard and the surfer located thereon to an aqueousmedium.

There is a surfboard known from patent documentation, the surfboardcomprising a body made of several layers of a special porous resilientmaterial having air channels along the body, connected to an indicatorof air pressure in the body (application WO2011009621A, 27.01.2011). Thesurfboard is equipped with a means for improving stability of surfer'sposition on the surfboard, providing control, reading and visualindication of pressure inside the surfboard. This solution allows asurfer to adjust speed to ensure a necessary rigidity of the surfboardand improve stability of the surfer's position on the surfboard.

According to application WO2011009621A, the surfboard comprises a body,at least one fin located in a rear portion of a lower side of the body,and a locking means connected to the surfboard for securing at least onesurfer's foot to the surfboard.

Design of such a surfboard predetermines a method of improving stabilityof surfer's position on the surfboard, the method consisting in securingsurfer's foot or feet to the surfboard in contact spots of the surfboardby means of providing roughness of a surface of the surfboard to improvetraction between the surfer's soles and the surfboard.

Design of known surfboards does not ensure full securing surfer's feetto the surfboards to avoid longitudinal displacement thereof relative asurface of the surfboard, which effect considerably reduces stability ofsurfer's position on the known surfboards.

There is a known surfboard equipped with locking means for securingsurfer's feet to the surfboard in a form of arched collars connected tosliders able to move in slideways along a surface of the surfboard. Thesliders may have a spacer providing a constant minimal distance betweentwo foot lockers (application FR2837164A1, 19.09.2003). This surfboardrestricts freedom of surfer's movement over a surface of the surfboard.Moreover, the locking means in a form of collars are not safe enough, sothe foot may drop out of the collar during movement or performingtricks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A technical result of the invention is improving stability of surfer'sposition on the surfboard, while maintaining a great freedom of surfer'smovement on a surface of the surfboard and providing a necessary levelof safety.

The technical result is obtained by a method of improving stability ofsurfer's position on the surfboard, the method consisting in securing atleast one surfer's foot to the surfboard by a locking means in a spot ofcontact between the foot and the surfboard, wherein securing the foot tothe surfboard is provided by underpressure caused by movement of thesurfboard. In order to provide that, a suction stream is formed in waterby a low-pressure chamber, and the stream is fed to a spot of contactbetween the foot and the surfboard via a pipe, so the foot is forced tothe surfboard by the underpressure.

The technical result is obtained by a surfboard comprising a body havinga fin located in a rear portion of a lower side of the body, and alocking means for securing at least one surfer's foot to a surface ofthe surfboard. The locking means comprises a low-pressure chamber, aswell as an input chamber, an input chamber nozzle and an output pipeconnected sequentially and located on the fin or inside the fin. Thenozzle is installed in the output pipe with a gap, and the low-pressurechamber is hermetically connected to a wall of the input chamber and awall of the output pipe. The low-pressure chamber communicates with atleast one opening provided in the surface of the surfboard by a suctionpipe connected to the low-pressure chamber, to provide interaction withthe surfer's foot.

In another embodiment, the surfboard comprising a body and a lockingmeans for securing at least one surfer's foot to a surface of thesurfboard may be provided without a fin. In this embodiment, the lockingmeans is located in a gutter-shaped recess in the body being open frombelow, provided in a lower portion of the body. The locking means alsocomprises a low-pressure chamber, as well as an input chamber, an inputchamber nozzle and an output pipe located sequentially. The nozzle isinstalled in the output pipe with a gap, and the low-pressure chamber ishermetically connected to a wall of the input chamber and a wall of theoutput pipe. The low-pressure chamber communicates with at least oneopening provided in the surface of the surfboard by a suction pipeconnected to the low-pressure chamber, to provide interaction with thesurfer's foot.

In some embodiments, the surfboard according to either first or secondembodiment is characterized in that the openings of the surfboard areequipped with push valves located so as to interact with the surfer'sfeet. Each push valve is spring-loaded or provided in a form of aresilient silicone membrane.

In the body of any of the surfboard embodiments, a receiver may belocated, the receiver provided in communication with the low-pressurechamber and connected thereto by a central suction pipe. A check valvemay be located in the central suction pipe between the receiver and thelow-pressure chamber. The receiver may be equipped with an underpressuresensor to indicate a level of underpressure in the receiver.

The surfboard according to any of the embodiments may be equipped withan underpressure regulator to adjust underpressure in the low-pressurechamber and in the suction pipe. The output pipe may be provided with afunnel, in which the nozzle of the input chamber is located, while a gapis provided between the funnel and the nozzle.

The technical result is also obtained by a device for improvingstability of surfer's position on the surfboard, the device comprising alocking means for securing at least one surfer's foot to a surface ofthe surfboard, the locking means connected to the surfboard, whichdevice is characterized in that the locking means comprises alow-pressure chamber, as well as an input chamber, an input chambernozzle and an output pipe located sequentially. The nozzle is installedin the output pipe with a gap, and the low-pressure chamber ishermetically connected to a wall of the input chamber and a wall of theoutput pipe. The low-pressure chamber communicates with at least oneopening provided in the surface of the surfboard by a suction pipeconnected to the low-pressure chamber, to provide interaction with thesurfer's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a surfboardhaving a device for improving stability of surfer's position, mounted ina fin of the surfboard.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a surfboardwithout a fin, with a device for improving stability of surfer'sposition, mounted in the surfboard.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a surfboard.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a surfboard.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a device for improving stability of surfer'sposition (without a receiver and a check valve; the surfboard is notshown).

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of a lower portion of a device forimproving stability of surfer's position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A surfboard according to the first embodiment comprises a body 1(FIG. 1) with a fin 2, wherein the body is equipped with a device forimproving stability of surfer's position on the surfboard. The device ismounted in the fin 2 or on the fin 2. The device comprises an inputchamber 3 having a conical nozzle 4 tapered to its end, a low-pressurechamber 5 and an output pipe 6, in which the conical nozzle 4 ispartially inserted, all sequentially connected in a direction opposed tothe surfboard movement direction. Walls of the low-pressure chamber 5are hermetically connected to walls of the output pipe and the inputchamber.

The low-pressure chamber 5 is a supporting structure, as it is connectedto the surfboard body 1 and the indicated parts of the device. Theindicated parts of the device are mounted in the chamber sequentially inthe direction of the arrows, as shown in the figures. The device alsocomprises suction pipes 7 and 8 providing communication of thelow-pressure chamber 5 with atmosphere. Ends of the suction pipes 7 and8 are hermetically mounted in output openings 9 and 10 provided in thesurfboard body 1 in an area of positioning the surfer's feet (FIG. 4),and the other ends of the suction pipes 7 and 8 communicate with thelow-pressure chamber 5. Special channels inside the surfboard body 1 andinside the surfboard fin 2 may be used instead of the pipes 7 and 8.

A gap 11 is provided between the conical nozzle 4 and the output pipe 6.In order to increase or decrease the gap 11, the input chamber 3 withthe conical nozzle 4 and the output pipe 6 are installed along thesurfboard movably relative to each other and may be fixed in apredetermined operational position.

Shapes of the input chamber 3, the conical nozzle 4, the low-pressurechamber 5 and the output pipe 6 may be different. These elements arecompact, depending on thickness H of the surfboard and height of the fin2. In one embodiment, the input chamber 3, the conical nozzle 4, thelow-pressure chamber 5 and the output pipe 6 are shaped as flat ovals,with their greater axes directed vertically and in parallel to thevertical axis of the fin 2. Preferably, the chamber 3, the nozzle 4, theoutput pipe 6 as well as the low-pressure chamber 5 are round-shaped intheir cross-section.

In one embodiment of the surfboard, quick-detachable press valves 12 and13 with footpads are secured to the top of the body above the bodyopenings 9 and 10, while the footpads slightly project from thesurfboard surface. Upon pressing the footpads of the valves andcorrespondingly the valves themselves, the valves open and the suctionpipes 7 and 8 communicate with atmosphere. To ensure that, each valvefootpad may be provided with a plurality of openings (not shown).

Other configurations of the valves are also possible. For example, inone embodiment, the valves are spring-loaded; in another embodiment,they are provided in a form of resilient silicone membranes, so theopenings 9 and 10 open upon pressing the membranes. Each press valve isa normally closed valve; it opens only when the surfer's foot pressesthe valve or the valve footpad.

Configurations of the surfboard without the valves 12 and 13 arepossible. In this embodiment, the constantly open openings 9 and 10serve as valves to provide suction of surfer's feet to the surfboard. Inthis configuration, the openings 9 and 10 in the top surface of the bodyare open (with no valves in them) and located in an area of interactionbetween surfer's feet and the surfboard.

In any configuration of the surfboard, it comprises the openings 9 and10, which may interact with surfer's feet either via the valves 12 and13, or directly without any intermediate elements. One opening may beprovided in the surfboard body instead of two openings.

In a configuration of the surfboard (without valves), a plurality ofopenings may be provided in the body; each opening may be formed by aseparate group of smaller openings 9 and 10 for each sole of thesurfer's feet, thus forming suction areas of different shapes forproviding suction of the surfer's feet to the surfboard.

In a first embodiment of the surfboard (FIG. 1), the device forimproving stability of surfer's position on the surfboard as disclosedin the above is located inside the hollow fin 2 between its walls andthe device elements are shaped so as to fit the space between the finwalls. The surfboard may be equipped with a vacuum receiver 14 providingenough suction effect not only when the surfboard moves fast, but alsoat a slow speed and even when the surfboard stops. The vacuum receiver14 is connected to the low-pressure chamber 5 by a central pipe 15, andit is connected to the openings 9 and 10 by the suction pipes 7 and 8.In addition, the surfboard may be equipped with a check valve 16hampering motion of an air medium or a water medium in the directionfrom the low-pressure chamber 5 to the openings 9 and 10.

In order to indicate underpressure level in the device for improvingstability of surfer's position, the surfboard may also be equipped withan underpressure sensor 17, which indications are output to a display(not shown) located on a surface of the surfboard. An underpressureregulator 18 may be mounted at the top side of the surfboard body 1. Theunderpressure regulator 18 communicates with the low-pressure chamber 5and the suction pipes 7 and 8 by the pipe 15. The regulator 18 is a tapprovided in communication with the check valve 16 and mounted flush in arecess of the surfboard. The regulator 18 is used for adjusting flowsection of the suction pipe 15 by affecting the check valve 16.

A second embodiment of the surfboard (FIG. 2) comprises all features ofthe first embodiment, except for the fin, which is absent in the secondembodiment. In the second embodiment of the surfboard, the device forimproving stability of surfer's position is mounted inside thesurfboard. The second embodiment of the surfboard may have the sameconfiguration features, as the first embodiment of the device.

In the second embodiment of the surfboard, a longitudinal recess 19 openfrom below is provided at a lower side of the surfboard to guide a waterstream into the input chamber 3. The recess is provided in a form of asmooth longitudinal gutter located along the body 1 of the surfboard,and the device for improving stability of surfer's position is locatedwithin the recess 19 or after the recess in a rear portion of thesurfboard.

The output pipe 6 has a funnel 20 at the side, where the conical nozzle4 is located, the funnel 20 widening outwardly in the direction of thenozzle (FIG. 6). The funnel angle is preferably equal to the taper angleof the conical nozzle 4, so the gap 11 is located substantially inbetween the conical surfaces of the conical nozzle 4 and the conicalfunnel 20.

A screw mechanism for adjusting the gap 11 is provided in the device(FIG. 6). The mechanism has a threaded sleeve 21 secured to a wall ofthe low-pressure chamber 5. The sleeve has an inner thread, in which theoutwardly threaded input chamber 3 is screwed.

The surfboard operates as follows. When the surfboard moves in a watermedium below its waterline shown as dashed line in FIG. 1, a waterstream under pressure enters (according to the right to left arrow) theinput chamber 3, the nozzle 4, the low-pressure chamber 5 and the outputpipe 6. A fluid, i.e., air or water or a mixture of air and water issucked in a natural manner from the low-pressure chamber 5 to the outputpipe 6. Therefore, when the surfboard moves across a water surface, someunderpressure is formed in the low-pressure chamber 5, and pressure inthe suction pipe 15 is decreased below atmospheric level. Upon formingunderpressure in the pipe 15, the check valve 16 opens (FIG. 2) and thefluid is drawn from the pipe 15 and the pipes 7 and 8. If the surfboardcomprises the receiver 14 (FIG. 3), then the fluid is also drawn fromthe pipe 15, the receiver 14 and the pipes 7 and 8, wherein negativepressure of the fluid is formed.

When surfer's feet press the valves 12 and 13 having a plurality ofsmall openings, they communicate with the openings 9 and 10 and suctionof surfer's soles to surfaces of the valves 12 and 13 occurs, or suctionof one of the surfer's soles to surface of one of the valves occurs.

If the valves 12 and 13 are not used, they are dismounted and in thiscase when one surfer's sole closes one opening or when two surfer'ssoles close two openings 9 and 10, the fluid sucks one sole or bothsoles of the surfer to the surfboard body 1. Thus, displacement of oneor two feet of the surfer is hampered, so stability of surfer's positionis improved.

When a surfboard according to the second embodiment (FIG. 2) moves in awater medium, incoming water enters the longitudinal gutter-shapedrecess 19, then enters the input chamber 3, further passes thelow-pressure chamber 5, and finally the water stream enters a rearportion of the recess 19. After that the above-indicated operationalcycle of the surfboard having the device according to the secondembodiment repeats, as it is recited in the previous embodiment.

During operation of the surfboard, underpressure occurs in thelow-pressure chamber 5 in any embodiment of the surfboard, and air mixedwith water particles is sucked from atmosphere via the valves 12 and 13or via the openings 9 and 10, then it passes through the pipes 7 and 8,the receiver 14, the pipe 15, the check valve 16, the chamber 5 andenters the output pipe 6 via the gap 11. When feet press the valves 12and 13, or when the openings 9 and 10 are closed by any portion ofsurfer's body, this portion is sucked to the working surface of thevalve. Negative pressure in the low-pressure chamber 5 increases withincrease in speed of the surfboard. The receiver 14 levels off a sharpchange in pressure inside the device, so when underpressure of the fluiddrops, a force of traction between the surfer's feet and the valves oropenings in the surfboard body decreases gradually. If the device isused without the receiver 14 and the valve 16 (FIG. 1), hydraulic lossof the fluid underpressure caused by interaction with surfaces of thereceiver 14 and the valve 16 is decreased. Using the valve 16 in thesurfboard improves reliability of actuating the device at correspondingloss of the fluid underpressure.

The gap 11 is decreased by clockwise rotation of the input chamber 3 bya predetermined angle around the longitudinal axis of the chamber 3relative to the fixed output pipe 6. The gap 11 is increased by rotationof the nozzle in the opposite direction. Adjustment of the gap allowsselecting an optimal operational mode of the device, depending on theunderpressure level in the low-pressure chamber 5.

The claimed group of technical solutions is novel in view ofimplementation of the method of providing traction between surfer's feetand a surface of a surfboard. The claimed technical solutions are ofrelatively simple design and they may be implemented using knowntechnical means and existing materials. Use of these technical solutionsis possible entirely owing to incoming stream of water, therefore theyare ecological and economical, as no any electric power sources, fuel,etc. are needed.

1. A method of improving stability of a surfer's position on asurfboard, said surfboard includes an anchoring means comprising alocking means, a low-pressure chamber, and a pipe; said methodcomprising the steps of: positioning at least one surfer's foot in thelocking means located in a spot of contact between the at least onesurfer's foot and the surfboard; forming by the low pressure chamber asuction stream during movement of the surfboard upon water; andcommunicating the suction stream to the spot of contact between the atleast one surfer's foot and the surfboard via the pipe; thereby forcingthe least one surfer's foot to the surfboard by an underpressure forceproduced by the suction stream.
 2. A surfboard comprising a body havinga fin located in a rear portion of a lower side of the body, and alocking means for securing at least one surfer's foot to a surface ofthe surfboard, wherein: the locking means comprises a low-pressurechamber, an input chamber, an input chamber nozzle and an output pipelocated sequentially, and mounted on the fin or inside the fin; whereinthe input chamber nozzle is installed in the output pipe with a gap, andthe low-pressure chamber is hermetically connected to a wall of theinput chamber and a wall of the output pipe; and wherein thelow-pressure chamber communicates with at least one opening provided inthe surface of the surfboard by a suction pipe connected to thelow-pressure chamber, to provide interaction with the at least onesurfer's foot.
 3. The surfboard of claim 2, characterized in that theopenings in the surfboard are equipped with press valves located so asto ensure interaction with the surfer's feet.
 4. The surfboard of claim3, characterized in that each press valve is spring-loaded.
 5. Thesurfboard of claim 3, characterized in that each press valve is providedin a form of a resilient silicone membrane.
 6. The surfboard of claim 2,characterized in that a receiver is located in the surfboard body, thereceiver provided in communication with the low-pressure chamber andconnected thereto by a central suction pipe.
 7. The surfboard of claim6, characterized in that a check valve is located in the central suctionpipe between the receiver and the low-pressure chamber.
 8. The surfboardof claim 6, characterized in that the receiver is equipped with anunderpressure sensor to indicate a level of underpressure in thereceiver.
 9. The surfboard of claim 2, characterized in that it isequipped with an underpressure regulator to adjust underpressure in thelow-pressure chamber and the suction pipe.
 10. The surfboard of claim 2,characterized in that the output pipe has a funnel, in which the inputchamber nozzle is located, while a gap is provided between the funneland the nozzle.
 11. A surfboard comprising a body and a locking meansfor securing at least one surfer's foot to a surface of the surfboard,characterized in that the locking means is located in a gutter-shapedrecess open from below in a lower portion of the body, and comprises alow-pressure chamber, well as an input chamber, an input chamber nozzleand an output pipe located sequentially, wherein the nozzle is installedin the output pipe with a gap, and the low-pressure chamber ishermetically connected to a wall of the input chamber and a wall of theoutput pipe, wherein the low-pressure chamber communicates with at leastone opening provided in the surface of the surfboard by a suction pipeconnected to the low-pressure chamber, to provide interaction with thesurfer's foot.
 12. The surfboard of claim 11, characterized in that theopenings in the surfboard are equipped with press valves located so asto ensure interaction with the surfer's feet.
 13. The surfboard of claim12, characterized in that each press valve is spring-loaded.
 14. Thesurfboard of claim 12, characterized in that each press valve isprovided in a form of a resilient silicone membrane.
 15. The surfboardof claim 11, characterized in that a receiver is located in thesurfboard body, the receiver provided in communication with thelow-pressure chamber and connected thereto by a central suction pipe.16. The surfboard of claim 15, characterized in that a check valve islocated in the central suction pipe between the receiver and thelow-pressure chamber.
 17. The surfboard of claim 15, characterized inthat the receiver is equipped with an underpressure sensor to indicate alevel of underpressure in the receiver.
 18. The surfboard of claim 11,characterized in that it is equipped with an underpressure regulator toadjust underpressure in the low-pressure chamber and the suction pipe.19. The surfboard of claim 11, characterized in that the output pipe hasa funnel, in which the input chamber nozzle is located, while a gap isprovided between the funnel and the nozzle.
 20. A device for improvingstability of surfer's position on a surfboard, the device comprising alocking means for securing at least one surfer's foot to a surface ofthe surfboard, the locking means connected to the surfboard, the devicecharacterized in that the locking means comprises a low-pressurechamber, as well as an input chamber, an input chamber nozzle and anoutput pipe located sequentially, wherein the nozzle is installed in theoutput pipe with a gap, and the low-pressure chamber is hermeticallyconnected to a wall of the input chamber and a wall of the output pipe,wherein the low-pressure chamber communicates with at least one openingprovided in the surface of the surfboard by a suction pipe connected tothe low-pressure chamber, to provide interaction with the surfer's foot.